08:49 AM EDT, 07/24/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Rivian Automotive ( RIVN ) is likely headed to court over a lawsuit that alleges the electric vehicle maker poached employees from rival Tesla (TESLA) and encouraged them to steal trade secrets before leaving the company, according to media reports.

A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge tentatively denied Rivian's motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Tuesday, saying Tesla had shown enough evidence to warrant a trial, the reports said.

The original complaint alleged that Tesla discovered "an alarming pattern" among employees leaving to join Rivian, saying that it found at least four departing employees taking "highly valuable, confidential information as they left for Rivian."

Rivian declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

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